Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-26
GARFIELD COUNTY.
Small in Territory But Large in Expecta'
tions-The Beautiful Pawnee
Valley,

A great deal has been said of late in r.
gard to the re-establishment of the oil
county lines in this portion of the state.
may be well to explain here that they hav
not been reestablished to correspond exac
" with their former boundaries.
Sometime back in the seventies when th
edit or of the EAGLE represented the entir
southwest portion of the state, bill passe
creating tie counties of Buffalo, Gray
Sequoyah, Araphoe, Kearney, Grant, Star
on and Hamilton. together with severa
Others. These counties ranged in size
from twenty-four miles square to twenty
four by thirty-six.
The idea that this territory would eve
be sufficiently settled to require subdi
ision into counties so small as this wa
ridiculed BE- many even who voted for tn
bill. A large majority Of the peopl'
of the state then believed
that Western Kansas would never supper
a dense population. Later on the croaker
got possession of the legislature and made
two counties out of what had been ten, OF
t he theory that so many ORGANIZATIONS
would not be needed in the great American
desert.
The past two years, however, have dem
nstrated that the faith which c. Gated these
counties more than ten years ago was well
founded. The legislatures of 1885 and
1887 were compelled to subdivide the terri
tory again.
In strict justice to all parties, the lines
hould have been run as before. and they
were so established with one exception.
T he north line of Buffalo, now called Gar
field county, was changed SO as to include
but eighteen by twenty four miles, instead
of twenty-four miles square, her former
territory.
This gives Garfield only 432 square miles
and makes her one of the smallest counties
in the state, but this fact is
more than counterbalanced by her
many superior advantages,
The Pawnee river rises near the west line
and runs eastward through the entire
length of the county. This stream affords
abu ndance of stock water and the valley
along the stream is broad and fertile and
admirably adapted to either stock rising or
agriculture, and the uplands are as good as
any that can be found in the state. Many
of the settlers have found springs on their
lands, and an abundant supply of good
water can easily be secured by digging
wells.
Still later the surrounding terri
tory began to be occupied by ranch
men and a demand was created for
trading point. John Bull, who is true
American notwithstanding his English
name, was the first to see the advantages of
the location as business center. Seven
years ago he established a store here for the
sale of general merchandise and has built
up large and prosperous business
Ravanna, the lately appointed county
seat, is the most important trading point in
the county. Years ago the present site of
Ravauna was camping ground for the
Indians. Later On Mr. Samuel P. Wood,
one of the first settlers in the valley, located
here and was appointed postmaster. In
addition to his mercantile trade he has es.
tablished ranch adjoining the town for
the purpose of raising blooded horses and
cattle which will be of incalculable benefit
to the county.
The men chosen to act as temporary Of
ficers for Garfield county, and upon whom
rests the responsibility oflaying the founda-
ton for her future business career are Com
missioners Bell, Golf and Dixon, County
Clerk Van Patten, and Sheriff Coulson.
MIR. Golf has had several years experience
as county officer in the earlier organiza-
ton of Rice and Hodgeman counties which
places he filled with credit.
Mr.. Dixon is representative man of the
town of Eminence which made hard fight
with Ravanna for temporary county seat
He is a man of good business qualifications.
Mr.. ConlsOn, the sheriff, is pan of ex-
perience in his line, and always gets his
man when he goes after him.
With men like these st the helm, In ad-
dition to her other advantages, Garfield
county cannot fail to take her place among
the leading counties of the state.
Ravanna has already grown from mere
cross road trading point to a town of sew
eral hundred population. Every branch
Of mercantile business is represented. It
has two solid banks, each doing thriving
business. Three newspapers, the Chief
tain, the Sod House and the Record.
1t has already no less than twelve we'll
stone buildings, remarkable
feature for SO young a town.
The quarries from which the stone is
procured Is near town, and will become
one of the permanent sources of wealth to
the community.
Everything, considered no locality,
offers better inducements to the homeseeker
and the speculator than Garfield county.
Nc.
Ravanna, Kan. July q, 81.